Mr. Belvedere (1985-1989): Starring Christopher Hewett, Bob Uecker, Ilene Graff, Brice Beckham, Rob Stone, Tracy Wells, Creator Alan Bergman DEAR GOD! Rumagging through old sitcoms through the internet, I was flooded with memories of this show. When I saw this, they were most likely the final seasons (1988-1989). British actor Christopher Hewett (now deceased) played Mr. Belvedere, a proper British émigré who on a snow December evening in Philadelphia or Boston or some East Coast America city, knocks on the door of the suburban middle class family the Owen's residence, seeking job as a housekeeper and nanny. A male nanny ? He was like a male version of Mary Poppins with a lot of attitude, a modern ideology, wit and great humor! Most of all, he was always there to loyally help the Owens and provide them with great advice. He was a good man and an example of fatherly masculinity mixed with a touch of a balanced cultured/artsy/sophisticated feminine side. He often clashed with the more macho, no-nonsense Mr. George Owens (Baseball star and later sports commentator Bob Uecker). I liked when these two matched wits and butted heads! Mrs. Owens was played by Ilene Graff, though quite frankly I don't recollect much of her part. She was a typical 80's housewife/mother which meant she probably had long hair, 80's sun dresses and "book club" clothes. She was, however, a very modern mother and quite liberal. I remember one particular episode in which her eldest son Kevin (Rob Stone) was in drag as he was going to attend a fun costume party. MARSHA OWENS: Where are you going ? KEVIN: To the costume party. I'm going as a hot babe. MARSHA: Not like that you aren't. And she tears off a piece of his skirt so that his thighs are showing!!! In another episode: PHONE RINGS. BELVEDERE PICKS UP. "Owens residence. Mary Poppins speaking." Their youngest son Wesley (Brice Beckham) was a troublemaker and prankster, a lot like a human version of Bart Simpson before Bart Simpson ever made it on TV. He was a hellraiser with a heart of gold and ultimately, he is a good kid whose life is changed by Mr. Belvedere. He always learned valuable lessons. Tracy Wells was the middle child Heather, who was stuck in her high school worries of being popular and attractive. This show had a lot of heart. At the end of every episode, Mr. Belvedere would write about his day in his diary. The credits would end with a mixture of a tinkling piano melody to depict Belvedere's character and then plunges into the jazzy, party spirit of the main theme. I will always remember this show.
Review of Mr. Belvedere
